Distensible bag catheter



Sept. 28, 1943. G. l.. wlNDER DISTENSIBLE BAG CATHETER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. ll, 1937 Sept. 28, 1943. G. l.. WINDER DISTENSIBLE BAG CATHETER 3 Filed sept. 11, 1957 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept.l 28, 1943 2,330,399 msTENsIBLE BAG olrrrm'rltlt George L.

poration of Delaware Winder, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor to American Anode, Inc., Akron,

Ohio, a cor- Application September 11, 1937, Serial No. 163,422

(Cl. 12S-349) Claims.

This invention relates to rubber surgical accessories and particularly to drainage catheters provided with distensible bags of the type especially designed for controlling hemorrhage following transurethral re-section of the prostate gland and for similar purposes, as well as the so-called self-retaining distensible bag catheters, and to methods of manufacturing such accessories.

The invention has for its major objects the provision of more satisfactory, more efiicient, and more dependable distensible bag catheters, and the provision of economy and efficiency in the manufacture of such rubber articles of complicated structures. More particularly, the invention aims to provide a catheter provided with a bag which shall be more easily distensible than the bags of smilar products now available; to provide a bag which shall distend uniformly in a desired shape; to provide a bag which shall distend to the required shape with minimum stretching of the rubber and consequent reduction in danger of bursting or otherwise failing in use; to provide a distensible bag catheter so constructed as to eliminate the possibility of the drainage tube collapsing under pressure from the distended bag; to provide a catheter with a separately formed and attached bag without the usual abrupt edges at the juncture of the bag with the wall of the catheter proper; to provide novel procedure for manufacturing distensible bag catheters; to provide novel procedure for attaching the distensible bag to catheter proper; to provide novel procedure for incorporating collapse-resisting reenforcements in distensible bag catheters; and to provide other novel features in construction and manufacture of distensible bag catheters.

The manner in which these and other objects ofthe invention are achieved will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating the initial step in the process of manufacturing a distensible bag catheter according to one embodiment of the present invention and showing two deposition forms immersed in a liquid rubber composition receiving coating deposits of rubber;

Fig. 2 is a section Fig. 3 is a section Fig. 4 is an elevation, partially broken away for clarity of illustration, illustrating further steps in the process;

taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

the body of the taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

in Fig. 9;

ltrating the step of affixing Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating a further step in the process and showing the assembly of Fig. 4 immersed in a liquid rubber composition receiving a coating of rubber;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevation, partially broken away, showing a portion of the product of the step illustrated in Fig. 6, after further operations have been performed upon it;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation illustrating the step of forming the distensible bag;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illusthe bag to the catheter;

Fig.. 10 is a sectional elevation illustrating a further step in the process and showing the assembled catheter and bag immersed in a liquid rubber composition for receiving a finishing coating of rubber;

Fig. l1 is an elevation, partially sectioned for clarity of illustration, showing the distensible bag catheter made by the procedure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation, partially sectioned and broken away, illustrating a slight modification in the manner of aflixing the distensible bag to the catheter proper as illustrated Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating a modified procedure in which the distensible bag is formed in situ;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation illustrating an early step in a modified procedure for forming a reenforced distensible bag catheter;

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line |5|5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a further step in the modified procedure and showing reeniorcing elements in place on the product of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a portion of the main body of a catheter made by the modified Yprocedure ready for application of the distensible bag;

Fig. 18 is a section taken on 17;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevation showing the finished distensible bag catheter made by the modified procedure illustrated in Figs. 14 to 18.

As the novel features of construction embodied in the present distensible bag catheters may be most readily understood from a consideration of the procedures by which they are made, the invention will be described primarily from the proline l8-l8 of Fig.

' in a liquid rubber composition cedural point of view, the structure of the product becoming evident as the description proceeds.

In manufacturing a distensible bag catheter according to one procedure illustrative of my invention, I utilize two deposition forms, a principal or drainage-tube form I0, and an auxiliary or distension-duct form II, made of any suitable material, but preferably of a light-weight; noncorrodible metal such as aluminum. The drainage-tube form I consists of a relatively long rod-like portion I2 corresponding to the desired lumen size, with a gradually tapered head I3 at oneV end. The distension-duct form II consists of a straight rod-like element I4 of crescentiform cross-section having a length somewhat less than the length of the rod-like portion I2 of the form I0, and having an off-set extension I5 terminating in a gradually tapered head I6 generally like the head I3 of the form I0.

In the process, the two forms I0 and II are immersed to points well up on suitable tank I8 (Fig. l) and coatings of rubber I9a, I9b, each about 0.10 to 0.15 thick are deposited respectively upon the forms I0 and II. The liquid rubber composition I1 the rubber deposits from the forms.

Next, the two coated forms are assembled and pressed together with the concave portion of the coated crescentiform rod I4 of the form I I lying along the circular rod I2 of the form I0 and eX- tending from a point about two or three inches from the tip of the form I0 to a point near the tapered portion I3, with the offset extension I5 of the form I I projecting outward in the common plane of the assembled forms. Cohesion of the unvulcanized rubber deposits ordinarily will be suflcient to hold the assembled forms in proper relation for subsequent handling, but may previous deposits to provide an overall coating I9c about 0.30" t0 0.40 thick as most clearly possible to mount the For providing collapse-resisting reenforcement in the body of the catheter proper, when required, a piece of ordinary square-woven cotton fabric such as common ,"cheese-cloth 20, or other fabric, is impregnated with latex or other rubber composition and wrapped about the deposit I 9c at the end of the distension duct form I I where the distensible bag is desired, the fabric being held in place by cohesion of the latex on the fabric with the latex rubber o1' the deposit I 8c. A

catheter by the stylet or sound employed in inserting the catheter through the urethra when it is used.

Thereupon the assembly is again immersed in the liquid rubber composition I1 to receive another coating of rubber which serves to enclose or embed the reenforcing fabric 20 and the metal merged rubber deposits being numeral I9d. When the rubber deposit I9d has dried suiiciently to permit handling, a small aperture 22 is cut through the rubber I9d and the fabric 20 to expose a short length of the distenbulbous bag 25a, and having opposed stems 21, 21 designed to form tubular flanges 25b, 25h upupon injection of iiuid.

Upon completion of prepared catheter body through the bag and the 25h,

of course bemg greatly ends of the flanges into the grooves as described. Finally, the assembled catheter is subjected to the usual washing, drying, and vulcanizing treatments, the deposition forms l and Hare stripped from within thev deposits, drainage eyelets are cut in appropriate positions, and the ends of the outlet tubes are trimmed, all according to usual procedure requiring no detailed explanation.

The procedure described for attaching the distensible bag to the body of the catheter may advantageously be modiedby making the grooves 23, 23 wide enough to receive the entire respective flanges 25h, 25h, as illustrated in Fig. 12, thereby further' contributing to a smooth exterior surface.

The finished scribed, as illustrated, in sist of a principal drainage age eyelets 3l, 3l at the distal end, a distensible bag 25 surrounding the main body of the catheter adjacent the eyelets, with an auxiliary or distension duct 32 leading lnto and through the integralbody of the catheter to the distensible bag, whereby the bag may be distended by injecting fluid through the duct. The distensible bag is pre-formed with a bulbous pear shape so that minimum stretching of the rubber bag and minimum distending pressure will be necessary for fitting the bag closely to the prostatic fossa, uneven distension of the bag being minimized by the ribs or molded corrugations 29, 29. Although the bag is formed separately and affixed to the body of the catheter, aV smooth exterior surface is nevertheless presented, thereby overcoming a serious defect in the usual type of assembled bag catheter. Other advantages of the product are apparent.

For causing the catheter, or a desired local portion of the catheter, to show up more clearly in an X-ray photograph of a patient, the liquid rubber composition from which the catheter or the local portion thereof is formed may be compounded with a suitable shadow-producing material. For example, the addition of 20% of blanc fixe (based on the rubber content) to latex, will produce a rubber article capable of casting a clearly defined shadow under X-rays. Other materials which block the travel of X-rays may be substituted for the blanc xe.

In a modified procedure, the distensible bag may bev yformed in situ by treating the local circumferential area of the catheter body where the bag is desired with a substance adapted to prevent adhesion in that area of a subsequently applied deposit of rubber. For example, a local circumferential area or surface band of the rubber body of the catheter including the opening 22, may be treated with a separating material such as a suspension of soapstone in alcohol, or

catheter made by the process de- Fig. 11, is seen to contion forms I6 and 22 is made through the tube 3u having drainf `and in the opening 22;

body designated I9! is prodescribed upon the. deposi- Ii. The rubberized fabric reenforcement 26 is then wrapped about the body I9f at the tip end of the -form Il, and an opening fabric and rubber to expose a short length ofthe forni Il and provide communication into the distension duct. The fabric 20 is then preferably treated as by brushing thereon an appropriate quantity of a syrupy coating composition containing grams` of soapstone suspended in one literof acetone or alcohol containing 500 grams of a latex coagulant such as calcium nitrate or zinc nitrate, thereby producing, after the alcohol or acetone has evaporated, a separating layer 33 upon the fabric The assembly is then dipped in latex and a nnal coating of rubber is produced thereon adhering to the body ISUv except over the treated fabric where a. circumferential layer of rubber 34 is produced forming an integral bag which may be distended by injecting iiud through the distension duct, the pulver-ulnt separating material in the opening 22 of (ourse .being easily displaced by the distending uid.

In a further modiiled embodiment of the invention, (Figs- 14 to 19) a coil wire reenforcement is utilized which necessitates a circular cross-section in the main body of the catheter. I therefore utilize a principal or form 4| having a longitudinal groove extending along the form from a point about two or three inches from the tip end to a point near the enlarged head, together with a rod-like auxiliary or distension-duct form 42 having a circular cross-section adapted toi'lt in the groove in the principal form. |I'he .two forms are coated lwith rubber inthe manner described, the coated auxiliary form is placed in the groove of the coated principal form, and the assembly is coated with rubber (Fig. 14) to build up an integral deposit of rubber 43 about half the thickness desired in the Wall of the catheter.` Next, a coil wire reenforcing element 44, is placed over the tubular portion of the deposit 43, and a U-shaped tip- Fig. 13, the 'catheter duced in the manner reenforcing'wire element 45 is placed over the` tip of the deposit with the legs of the U extending to and being mechanically engaged with the coil reenforcing element 44 (Fig. 16). The coil reenforcing element 44 may be formed of about 0.007 inch gauge stainless steel wire and.

should have a low pitch of about 20 coils to the inch. The coil element preferably extends from a point between the position (in the' finished Vcatheter) of the drainage .eyelets and the diswith a chemical such as blromine,.chlorine, or 60 sulfur chloride, in a suitable solvent, to prevent adhesion of the subsequently applied rubber deposit, and then immersed in a liquid rubber composition to produce the final coating of rubber forming the treated area. When a collapse-resisting fabric reeniorcement is embodied in the catheter, it has been found advantageous not to embed the fabric in the body of the catheter as heretofore described, but to wrap enforcement 20 about the body of the catheter after it is complete except for the bag-forming deposit of rubber and to utilize the fabric for retaining pulverulent separating material upon the catheter body.l

distensible bag in situ over the the rubberized fabric remanner described.

tal end of the bag toa point adjacent the convergence of the drainage tube and the distension duct but may be restricted to a portion only of the length of the catheter, as for example merely the length covered by the distensible bag.-

When the wire reinforcing elements 44 and 45 have been properly positioned, the assembly is immersed in the liquid rubber composition l1 and a deposit of rubber of suicient thickness to cover the Wire is produced thereon to embed the wire completely within the wall of the catheter. Small openings 46, 46 then are cut in the catheter wall to provide communication. into the distension duct near the tip end of the distension duct form 42, and a distensible bag 41 is affixed to the catheter over the openings 46, in the To complete the catheter, the forms 4|, 42 are removed, drainage eyelets the open ends of the drainage tube' drainage tube' and the distension duct are trimmed, and the rubber is washed, dried, andV vulcanized as before.

As will be noted. the formed with a pear-shaped co ation for fitting the" prostatic fossa, and that it also is formed with longitudinal fiutes or folds 49 to facilitate easy and uniform distension of the bag, while maintaining minimum size of the undistended vbag for easy passage through the urethra. The coil wire'reenforcing element :lf3 effectively prevents collapse of the drainage tube under collapsing pressure, and even when the tube is bent sharply, While the U shaped tip reenforcement i5 imparts rigidity to the tip and facilitates passage through the urethra. Other advantages of the embodiment of Fig. l1 of course are inherent i the modified embodidistensime bag 41 is ment of Fig. 19. Y

It therefore appears that the invention as described attains to a high degree the objects hereinabove set forth.

The various specific features of construction and procedure described in connection with the several different embodiments of the invention of course may be interchanged and combined in many obvious ways, and the invention is by no means restricted to the particular combinations of features illustrated and described. Also, numerous modifications and variations in details of operative procedure and materials herein described may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

claim:

l. A distensible bag catheter comprising an integral tubular rubber structure comprising a drainage tube having an eyelet adjacent the distal end, a duct extending through the wall of said structure from an opening therein near the eyelet, a distensible bag' about said structure over said opening whereby the bag may be disand opening, said distensible bag being formed with molded means for promoting uniform distension of the ba and a collapse-resisting reenforcement associated with said tubular structure in the region of the distensible bag,

2. A surgical appliance comprising a tubular portion, a distensible bag thereon, and means for distending the bag by injection of fluid, said bag having a thin, readily extensible Wall formed of exible, elastic material and said wall being formed with molded wall configurations for promoting luniform distension of the bag, the thickness of the wall being substantially the same throughout the bag.

3. A surgical appliance as defined by claim 2 in which the molded Wall configurations comprise corrugations in the bag Wall.

4. A surgical appliance as dened by claim 2 in which the molded Wall configurations comprise iutes in the bag wall.

l tended by injection of huid through said duct 5. A surgical appliance comprising a tubular portion, a distensiblel bag thereon, and means for distending the bag by injection of uid, said formed with molded wall congurations for pro--l moting uniform distension of ness of the bag wall being same throughout the bag.`

7.V A distensible bag cathetercomprising an integral tu'bular rubber structure comprising a drainage tube and a parallel distension duct having the bag,l the thicksubstantially the an opening therein at a position normally placed within a body cavity during use of the catheter, a distensible bag about said structure at said mally placed within a body cavity during use of the catheter, a distensible bag about said structure at said opening and at a position normally placed Wholly within a body cavity during use of the catheter whereby the bag may be positioned Within a body cavity and then distended by injection of fluid through said duct and opening, said distensible bag having a thin, readily extensible Wall formed of flexible, elastic material and having molded wall configurations for promoting uniform distension of the bag.

9. A surgical appliance comprising a tubular rubber structure having flexible and normally collapsible Walls, an annular distensible bag locally encircling said tubular structure, and reenforcing means comprising textile fabric locally secured about the exterior surface of the tubular structure in the region encircled by the bag.

10. A surgical appliance comprising a tubular rubber structure having flexible and normally ycollapsible walls, an annular distensible bag locally encircling said tubular structure, and reenforcing means comprising a single layer of rubberized textile fabric locally secured about the exterior surface of the tubular structure in the region encircled by the bag.

GEORGE L. WINDER.

CERTIFICATE `0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,550,599. September 28, 19145.

GEORGE L. WIEDER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1|., second column, line 22, for l'1111" after positioned read -within; line 6l, after the words and period by the ba8 insert the following claim ll. A distensible bag catheter or similar article'comprising a tubular member having relatively thick walls formed of rubber material and having a plurality 'of longitudinal passage-ways therein, acircumferential groove in the surface of the tubular member at a position spaced from either end thereof, a Separate distensible member formed of extensible rubber material. associated with the tubular member, said separate dstensible member having an annular portion closely embracing the exterior surface ofthe said tubular member with at least the end of the annular portion lying in said groove, and a coating of rubber material overlying and adhesively engaging a substantial portion of the exterior surfaces of both the tubular member andV the separate distensible member in theregion adJacent said groove, the adherent overlying coating of rubber ,serving securely to attach the thin-walled intenable member to the mick-walled tubular member and to provide arelatively anooth exterior surface free of abrupt irregularities in the region adjacent the engagement between the said two members, at least one of said passageways inthe tubularmember having communicationwith the space coveredlby the distensible member, whereby the distensible manber may be diatended by injection of fluid through the passageway.

and that the said Letters Patent, dlouldbe read with this correction there-' in that the seme may conform to the record ofthe case inthe Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lst day of. February, A. D. 19M.. l

Henry Van'rsdale, (Seal) Acting camissioner of Patents. 

